Under the supervision of the Associate Director for User Services, the Access Services Librarian is responsible for the daily operations of D'Angelo Law Library Access Services department including circulation desk services, stacks maintenance, reserves processing, resource sharing, library entry access, and physical space and equipment oversight. The Access Services Librarian supervises a staff of 4 full-time clerical employees and approximately 10 students and/or part-time employees, ensuring consistent and superior staff performance during all hours of operation. The Access Services Librarian serves as a resource on D'Angelo Law Library access services in D'Angelo and campus library-wide forums and develops and implements policies that utilize best practices to meet user needs. The Access Services Librarian creates and communicates a successful vision, employs appropriate assessment to analyze and improve the effectiveness of the department, and strategically plans for the ongoing improvement of all services offered. 

The Access Services Librarian is also part of the D'Angelo reference team, primarily providing expertise on and responding to access services-related questions. The Access Services Librarian supports D'Angelo's User Services to the Law School and University communities by participating in orientation, leading tours, supporting the work of students and faculty, creating and maintaining research guides and other patron-focused resources, and contributing to the website.

The D'Angelo Law Library contributes to the academic and scholarly success of the University of Chicago and Law School communities by providing rich collections and resources, maintaining a premier scholarly environment, and delivering superior library services. D'Angelo's collections are among the world's finest for law research and enable comprehensive access to legal scholarship and interdisciplinary resources. D'Angelo occupies five floors in the central tower of the Law School's Laird Bell Quadrangle and is a valued partner in the Law School's community of scholarship, teaching, and learning. The D'Angelo Law Library is part of the University of Chicago Library system, working cooperatively with other campus libraries to ensure rapid access to print and digital collections, research and study spaces, and expansive services. D'Angelo team members foster and maintain a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture to provide the highest level of service to the prolific and evolving University of Chicago Law School and University communities.

Essential Functions

Access Services and Collection Maintenance

• Manages and oversees the daily operations of the Access Services Department, including circulation, document delivery (e.g., scan and deliver, interlibrary loan service, and paging), reserves, and stacks maintenance.
•  Manages all D'Angelo collection locations, including D'Angelo's North and South Annexes; develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure accurate shelving, shelf-reading, shifting and organizing collections as needed; creates accurate signage.
• Oversees accurate filing and updating of material in looseleaf format.
• Oversees collection measurement; collects statistics on collection growth and shelf occupancy; analyzes data and makes recommendations on space planning.
• Hires, trains, supervises, schedules, and evaluates full-time and student departmental staff.
• In collaboration with the Associate Director for User Services, develops, implements, and communicates policies for D'Angelo Access Services that promote the Library's mission and achieve D'Angelo's goal of exceptional service to users.
• Communicates and interprets policies to users and monitors effectiveness. Responds to inquiries and diplomatically resolves user concerns and questions.
• Communicates and coordinates as necessary with Law School administrative staff - including the Registrar's Office, Dean of Students Office, Information Technology, and Facilities - regarding D'Angelo's access services and policies.
• Coordinates and communicates with University Library staff on the use of shared systems to ensure that policies meet the needs of Law School users.
• Collaborating with the Associate Director for User Services, engages in future planning, and sets achievable and measurable goals.  Establishes priorities and manages projects to achieve goals and promote efficient work.
• Stays abreast of trends in technology related to access services. Collaborates with D'Angelo reference librarians and Collection Services staff to develop, implement, and evaluate programs to continuously improve D'Angelo access services.
• Stays abreast of strategies and tools to enhance diversity, equity, and inclusion in D'Angelo's access policies and collections. Collaborates with D'Angelo staff to conduct regular assessments of access policies and collections for diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

Reference and Research Services

• Attends regular Reference Department meetings to provide access services related expertise.
• Participates in outreach and marketing of D'Angelo's collections and services to faculty and students, including contributing to the D'Angelo Library website and News site and participating in various library orientations as needed.
• Participates in the support of Law School faculty with other D'Angelo User Services librarians, including training research assistants on relevant access services and policies.

Other

• Compiles, summarizes, archives, and analyzes statistics for all access services operations (including circulation of D'Angelo materials and Library space usage) for various internal and external reporting, and to recommend staffing and service improvements. Develops new assessments as needed.
• Monitors the Library's Integrated Library System functions as they relate to D'Angelo access services, and collaborates with Library staff on testing, evaluation, and implementation.
• Develops and maintains collegial and collaborative relationships with colleagues at D'Angelo, the Law School, and the University Library system.
• Participates in D'Angelo initiatives and programs and in strategic planning and goal-setting processes.
• Serves on D'Angelo and University Library committees and groups, as well as professional organizations at national, regional, and local level, to grow professionally, stay abreast of current law library trends, and contribute to the law librarian field.

Required:

• MLIS from an ALA-accredited institution.
• Academic library or law library experience.
• Library experience involving user services policy development, implementation, assessment, and evaluation.
• Demonstrated supervisory skills, including directing the work of or training others.
• Access services experience including, but not limited to, circulation-related experience or collection maintenance experience.

Preferred:

• Demonstrated knowledge of legal information sources, techniques, and strategies.
• One year of supervisory experience, including hiring, training, evaluation, and discipline.
• Demonstrated experience in employing technology to promote efficiency, and in analyzing and evaluating data to identify trends and improve services and operations, experience with the Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong user service philosophy and a commitment to improvement and innovation.
• Excellent written and oral communication and organizational and planning skills.
• Excellent customer service skills, ability to handle difficult situations with courtesy, tact, discretion and patience, exercise good judgment consistent with Library procedures, and work in a fast-paced environment.

To Apply: Submit cover letter, curriculum vitae, and reference contact information online through the University of Chicago's Academic Recruiting website: https://apply.interfolio.com/136136. Review of applications will begin after December 7, 2023. Screening of applications will continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Salary and Benefits: Appointment salary based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include retirement plan, insurance, and paid time off.

Questions: Contact the University Library Human Resources department at [email protected]

All University departments and institutes are charged with building a faculty from a diversity of backgrounds and with diverse viewpoints; with cultivating an inclusive community that values freedom of expression; and with welcoming and supporting all their members.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages diverse perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange. The University's Statements on Diversity are at https://provost.uchicago.edu/statements-diversity.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-834-3988 or email [email protected] with their request.

About University of Chicago (UC)

One of the world's premier academic and research institutions, the University of Chicago has driven new ways of thinking since our 1890 founding. Today, UChicago is an intellectual destination that draws inspired scholars to our Hyde Park and international campuses, keeping UChicago at the nexus of ideas that challenge and change the world.

Connections working at University of Chicago (UC)